Creative Writing Ideas

Okay, so you have plenty of creative writing ideas – now what? For some people, getting ideas is the easy part and its the writing that can be a challenge. For others, the easy part is doing the writing but the ideas are slower to come. For me? My day could go either way. Sometimes the ideas flow and the writing comes easy. On other days I struggle with one or both of these things.

But in this article, I’ll just be discussing what to do once you get the ideas. If you need more tips on how to generate ideas or deal with writer’s block, just look around at the site and you’ll find plenty of tips.

What type of creative writing?

Creative writing comes in different forms. Once you have an idea you can either write a poem, short story, novel, screenplay, a screenplay or even a traditional play. If you have an idea this is the first thing that you’ll need to think about.

Now, when I come up with an idea I more often than not already know which genre it will fit best as. For example, I may come up with a good plot for a novel. Or I may have an idea for a poem that I want to write.

Other times, I can’t seem to decide what genre the idea will fit best as. For example, I came up with an idea a few months ago and I’m still trying to decide if it should be a screenplay or novel. Sometimes it’s easy to figure it out, sometimes it’s not.

If you’re on the fence about an idea, all I can say is don’t obsess too much about this step. Start working the idea in one genre. If it isn’t going well, consider trying the same idea in another genre. It may just be a matter of trial and error.

Getting it Down on Paper

Once you figure out what genre your piece will be, your next step is to write – to just work on the idea that you came up with. As I mentioned before, some days this may come easily. Some days it won’t.

One of the things that stops writers is fear. This really gets in the way and can prevent you from even starting. First, it helps if you understand that it is rare for writers to experience a stellar first draft. If your rough draft needs work, that’s okay – just work on it.

What really helps me is to set the timer. I set it for ten or fifteen minutes and promise myself that I will work on the idea for that time. It works. The timer somehow draws my attention to what I am writing and I am able to concentrate.

If that fails, try one of the writing exercises I’ve mentioned in previous posts.

Once you have the creative writing idea, all you need to do is start writing!

Technorati Tags: creative writing, Creative writing ideas, inspiration, writing

One of my favorite ways to get creative writing ideas is to do writing exercises and weed through what I came up with to see if there’s any material I can use afterwards. One of my favorite exercsises is something I like to call the “in the present” exercise.

This exercise is a powerful writing tool because

• It can help home your descriptive writing

• Gives you insight into the world around you

• Alerts you to potential ideas that you may have missed

• Teaches you how to be an effective observer

All of these skills are essential to a writer. Not only that, but the act of writing in a controled and subconscious way is a great tactic to help alleviate the “blank screen syndrome” or “writer’s block”.

How to Do the Exercise

The instructions for doing the exercise are fairly straightforward. Just set your timer for ten or fifteen minutes. Then, all you need to do is write about your environment while paying attention to all of the senses. What do you see, touch, taste, hear, and smell?

If I were to do the exercise now, here is how part of it would look:

     The timer ticks relentlessly. My fingers tap on the keys. My water bottle doesn’t have a cap. Where is the cap? Oh I see it, it’s on the other side of the desk. The squirrels are back – I see them from here, skittering on the tightrope.

It doesn’t look like much, but if you do this for ten or fifteen minutes a day, you will find your creative mind awakening. When you do sit down to do creative writing not only will you have plenty of ideas, but the words will flow.

Technorati Tags: creative writing, Creative writing exercises, Creative writing ideas, Creative writing prompts

When I’m confronted with the blank page the situation can go one of two ways. I could either write with inspiration or struggle to find the words or ideas to make my writing session satisfying. Yes, I have a lot of ways that I generate creative writing ideas. Some of them involve doing writing exercises and using prompts. However, I also like to turn off the computer and derive inspiration from life and the world around me. Here are some ideas:

• Your hobbies. Do you have any hobbies? If so, this step should be easy. If you knit, start a knitting project. If you paint, work on your next painting. The goal is to do something that isn’t writing – something that will help your mind relax. When you’re in this state, ideas may come. If not, at least you had fun!

• Get a hobby. If you don’t actually have a hobby, consider getting one. That way, you can always have a way to spend your time if you’re not up to writing. Hobbies can include physical pursuits such as running or hiking, artistic pursuits such as painting, cooking, needlework, knitting, etc.

• Exercise. Physical activity is good for the mind. Simple, repetitive pursuits such as walking and running can go a long way to help keep your mind healthy. Not only that, but when you’re not thinking about the activity you are doing, it gives you a chance to focus on your writing and get some ideas or work through anything you are stuck on.

• Go out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come up with ideas at the movies, in a restaurant, or even at the mall. The book store is one of my favorite places to go because you can see what people are interested in reading. Pay attention to the “Staff Picks” sections, the bestseller section, and special displays scattered throughout the store. Also browse through the magazine rack.

• Read the paper. Even something so simple as reading the paper can have big results. The paper is ripe with stories that could easily be turned into something creative. An article about a tragedy could inspire a movie plot. A human interest story could become a poem. Clip any articles that you find interesting and keep them in a scrapook or folder. When you’re stumped for ideas, look through the articles to see if anything stands out.

Finding creative writing ideas doesn’t need to be challenging. These offline methods are perfect for stimulating your creativity and giving you some ideas to work with in your own writing. Wherever you go, be sure to keep a notebook and pen handy so you can jot down ideas as they come.

Technorati Tags: creative writing, Creative writing exercises, Creative writing ideas, Creative writing prompts